Timothée Chalamet had years to immerse himself in Bob Dylan’s life. The actor explains what it was like.
Timothée Chalamet spent about five years studying Bob Dylan for his Oscar-nominated role in «A Complete Unknown», but he didn’t want to imitate the singer for the film.
Part of the challenge of playing the enigmatic and reclusive musician for Chalamet, was bringing himself to the role.
«Where does my heart and where does my soul fit into this? Can it fit into this, particularly with someone who was so masked», Chalamet said. Preparing to play Bob Dylan
Playing the singing and songwriting legend would be a daunting task for any actor, but when Chalamet was offered the role, he was 23 and says he knew very little about Dylan. A lot of people told him not to take it, but Chalamet seems to like a creative challenge.
Chalamet’s never met Dylan, but because of the COVID pandemic, strikes in Hollywood and other film commitments, the actor was able to do a deep dive into the musician’s life.
«I give 170% in everything I’m doing, no, ‘But’, there. I’m giving it my all. Something like the Dylan project, these aren’t watered-down experiences. I’m going Daniel Day-Lewis on all of them», Chalamet said. «I’m not saying in process, but I’m saying a level of commitment.»
Chalamet, who’s 29 now, didn’t just need to figure out how to sing like Dylan, he had to learn how to play harmonica and guitar and about 40 Bob Dylan songs — far more than were originally called for in the script.
The actor told 60 Minutes that early in his research, he looked Dylan up on YouTube. He found a clip of Dylan performing «It Ain’t Me Babe» with Joan Baez, with whom Dylan had a romantic relationship, particularly insightful. Chalamet said he watched the clip at half speed.
«That was when I really slowed down, ’cause it’s fascinating the way Bob observes her», Chalamet said. «And how he refuses eye contact in that video.»
Chalamet’s version, with Monica Barbaro playing Joan Baez, is one of the songs in «A Complete Unknown», which came out in December.
As part of his preparation for «A Complete Unknown», Chalamet watched an interview Dylan did with 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley more than 20 years ago.
«It’s a feeling you have that you know something about yourself nobody else does. The picture you have in your mind of what you’re about will come true. It’s kind of a thing you kind of have to keep to your own self because it’s a fragile feeling and you put it out there and somebody will kill it, so it’s best to keep that all inside», Dylan told Bradley during that interview.
Chalamet, who’s watched the interview «probably a thousand times», took special note of what Dylan said about self-destiny being fragile.
«Especially early on in life, in your career, when you’re in your early 20s or late teens», Chalamet said.
